The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

SpikyHedgehog

I dried one load of washing this morning (whites - DS1's chef white, DS2's school shirts, various towels, etc) on the line and put another on the clothes horse in the garden as there was no more room on the line while DS2 & I went shopping. Then took the white load off the line and put in the airing cupboard , and put the 3rd load on the line and moved the 2nd load onto the line as there's enough room now.

DS2 has been putting on weight again despite having lost last time we saw his weight management consultant at Livewell Suffolk. So I sat down with him this morning and did a meal plan for the week using the meal suggestions that he'd been given so we can try and get his portions and overeating back under control.

When I do meal planning, I look at what's on offer/seasonal/cooking meals to last 2 or more days. But that's not what 'we' (he) did this morning, it was focussed on whether he thought he'd like the meal or not. So shopping was more than I'd have liked, and used more imported fruit and veg than I'd have liked. But not budget-blowingly so, and if it helps him...

Except that while I was upstairs washing out the now redundant tetra-pack-waiting-to-be-taken-to-a-recycling-facility storage (yay, they can go in the recycling bin now!), he helped himself to 5 of the snack bars I'd got him for the week... Thank goodness I passed my driving test in September so now have a mobile lockable pantry sitting outside the house... Rest of the packet and the other 2 packets safely sitting in the car boot now, and I pointed out it was his loss as they were his bars for next week, so now he wouldn't have any.

Feeling rather down right now. I'd signed up to do a (free!) Masters module at the local uni, to do with work, but have had to drop out as DS2 is struggling so much at the moment. Scout leader requested his absence for the Remembrance day parade tomorrow, and no matter how I try to look on the bright side (no getting up and out early on Sunday am, no struggling to get into town, no muddy shoes to clean afterwards), I still feel pretty hurt. Will have to ask at Scouts committee meeting next week if there's any support for the group having him there - I know the official Scouts line is that

There is no reason why an individual with Autism cannot fully access Scouting, the range of activities and experiences offered may help them to reach their full potential.

nursemaggie

Nutty Your OH should not be at work he probably has concussion and that need complete bed rest. Did A&E not give you the leaflet about it. It is extremely dangerous not to do as the leaflet says. He should go back.

As the accident happened at work, doors do not open by themselves so that means someone was negligent. Technically that puts the onus on his employer. He should be off sick.

Glad you are feeling a lot better Lyn, I don't blame Docky if it is persisting down like it did here yesterday.

The Landlord did some repairs on Monday. The toilet is now dripping faster, as is the tap in the kitchen (needs a new tap), The leak in the bay window roof is now going drip drip drip, drip drip, drip drip drip, instead of drip, drip, yes there are three drips now. It could have been done Tuesday or Thursday if I had not had hospital appointments. The carpet soaking, can't catch all the drips and my water bill is huge. The chap who came to fix everything came with a screwdriver, to fix the taps, and a bit of filler to fill the hole in my living room ceiling that is as big as a man's hand. I have sent them photos of the hole 5 times since April. Despite there being two distinct lines showing the width of the wallpaper on the ceiling they cannot see it is enormous and looks as if it has been there years. They think it is a pin hole.

Sorry rant over sick of hearing this dripping water where ever I am in the house.

I keep editing this. There are supposed to be bigger spaces between the clusters of drips. You would see that if it would let me have the bigger spaces.

monnagran

Nursemaggie: I think the time has come for a good bit of shouting accompanied by a considerable amount of foot stamping. Maybe a suggestion that rent should be reduced until the house is made habitable would help.
Glad you are feeling better Lyn. There is nothing like a bad cold for dragging you down. Just take it easy for a bit.
Fuddle: I feel sorry for your poor sister. It must be terrible to be so wrapped up in your own wants and desires that you cannot think beyond them. The poor emotionally impoverished creature actually believes that it is more important to get a big card with 'Aunty' emblazoned on the front than to be able to show off to her friends a unique and personal card created by a loved niece. What a poor apology of a person. How I would love to take her by the shoulders and shake her hard until she realises what is important in life.
Can you tell how much I am filled with the Christmas spirit?

I have a Christmas card made for me by one of my three-year-olds in the nursery class at school. It is a quite a recognisable camel with its head on one side, only one eye and a most lascivious leer on its face. I've often been tempted to turn it into a card and use it for Christmas. It's well over 30 years old now but I still have it.

Children and their ideas on suitable Christmas gifts do amuse me. DS2, when he was about 5 or 6 did his own Christmas shopping. Grandad liked gardening so he got a packet of carrot seeds. Nanny liked knitting so she had a ball of wool, (bright orange, as I recall.) Aunty worked in an office so she was presented with a bulldog clip, and me? I had a wedding ring, (from woolworths), presumably because I was married, (which I was at that point), swathed in about 100 yards of sellotape. His wife now buys all his Christmas presents. But I will never forget that Christmas, nearly 40 years ago, and still have a chuckle over it.

I am slowly making my way through the Hairy Dieters recipe book. We really enjoyed their Sticky Chicken this week and I intend trying their Lasagne made with leek instead of pasta sheets, soon.
The Rev is busy doing wonderful things with PowerPoint for the big Remembrance Service she is taking tomorrow. They had a rehearsal this morning in the pouring rain. We have to go specially early as the Scouts are doing a Bacon Butty breakfast in the Village Hall before the service. Well, I like to do my bit in encouraging these young people. It's a great personal sacrifice but I can take it!

There are bumps and bangs going on outside and every so often my study window is lit up with showers of sparkly bits. Beautiful.

x

nursemaggie

Monna you are certainly right about our landlord. Not sure how you stamp your feet in an email. The house is owned by a company. The agents are in Milton Keynes and we are in Greater Manchester. They do not seem to keep staff for more than a month and they don't let me know when they change. If the person looking after our house changes the email disappears into the either never to be seen again. It makes for a lot of heads on walls.

Got to do something now, next door neighbough has just been round complaining that one of the repairs that has not been done is damaging her property. I have email written if I send it out of hours I will get an out of office reply and the email will never be seen again. I cannot blame them for my hospital appointments this week.

I think DS2 did wonderfully for a 5 - 6 year old. I think it is rather sweet.

My ex gave me a cash box for the office one year. That was from a man in his 40s at the time. Most of his gifts were as much use as chocolate tea pot. I learned to type at school, he never saw me on the computer typing search and peck like he does so he bought me a typing course one year. I showed him my certificate. What really got me was he spent a lot of money on it and never even tried to get the money back. I ended up paying the bills he should have paid with the money he spent. Some men have no idea.

Lots of bangs here no sparkly bits.

nursemaggie

Monna forgot to say could you send me the pattern number for the Christmas stockings they have my daughter's name written all over them.

Thanks

monnagran

Easy, nursemaggie. You send the email. Then you send it again. Then you send it again. and again, and again. Day after day until they are sick to death of the mention of your name. If you have a phone number you can bore them to death on the phone as well. You really have to make a nuisance of yourself. If you still get no satisfaction tell them that your next move will be towards the local press. That usually concentrates their minds.

I'm really not a very nice person.

x

It is a Jean Greenhow pattern called Christmas Something. I have adapted it though. If you would like me to send you my written out copy of it, just PM me with your address

SpikyHedgehog

Nutty, nursemaggie is right, your DH should not be back at work yet.

nursemaggie, could you get someone to hold a ruler by the hole in the ceiling so the photo shows exactly how big it is? Maybe monnagran's suggested local reporter

chickens11

Kidcat...Yes the MRI was today, I expect ive now got another long wait for the results :mad:, the past 4 wks as felt like 4 year , thats NHS for you....Thanks for asking...How did the minibus shopping go ?....That type vehicla will be a bit of a fuel guzzler ......

AOT...Its very painful for a long time and tender , but you will get good relief once its healed.....
Ive had all my paper work through for the second op on November 24 th, and I also have got my appointment through for the pre assessment today.....Cant wait to get that done , I just hope nothing else goes wrong with me in the next month , just want to get the foot done......
Mar...I did send you my address yesterday , but if youve already sent it to someone thats ok, thanks....

Just put some mealworms out for the hedgehogs , they keep coming edverynight still but I expect they will soo go to bed for the winter, oh how I wish I could sleep the winter away.......
SQ & Lyn..Hope you both soon get rid of the cough and colds, im the same no cold but my chest is so wheezy past 2 days.....

I had flu jab this morning , so thats all done until another year ....
Im watching a bit of xfactor while sitting by the fire , but wont be too long before I go to bed, just hate long nights , they never seem to end......Take care all...Sheila

nursemaggie

I do keep sending emails. To be honest I just cant afford the amount of phone calls it would take to be a nuisance.

If you saw my local rag you would know it would be front page news and you don't know what a mess the comments on line would disintegrate too. No way.

Actually hundreds of emails to no where are not a lot of good, done that got the T-shirt. A ruler to the hole would require a ladder. I do not want a ladder in my living room, we have no where else to keep one. We don't have any form of outhouse just a very tiny yard with a leanto kitchen filling most of it.

I have a feeling many of my emails have caught up with the person who is now looking after this house judging by the reaction to my long list. It is an international company so they can go anywhere with the name of a person. If I call and ask for the person by name I get "Oh she does not work here any more" and they put the phone down. They go no where without a persons name on.

Could someone tell me how to open a PM please? I have one waiting for me. I seem to have to set something up but I do not understand it.

Pity you and I are so far apart Sheila I could come and keep you company some evenings.

AOT can't you get someone to help you? Again I am a bit too far away to offer. I used to love doing that sort of thing.

kidcat

Sheila - when DS had an MRI I think his results were only 7 days away, so hopefully it wont be too long.
Minibus shopping went ok, I am now settled on what we need and what is unsuitable, its now a matter of finding it at the right price. It will use alot less diesel than our current car with the added benefit of being cheaper to tax, insure and have space in the boot

spikyhedghog - its worth contacting your council SEN team as well, ours has a support team who will attend groups as a one to one support, if they feel its needed - worth an ask if your area has something similar

Nursemaggie - have you contacted shelter for advice on escalating a complaint? Alternatively your local council could visit and then force repairs if its felt they are seriously needed .

Nutty - hope your long shift passes without incident and that OH feels better when you get home

DS10 eye is healing beautifully and thankfully the eye trauma has ceased so no more rainbows or triple vision